Universal joint.



S. l. PRESCOTT.

UNIVERSAL IOINT.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.27. I9I3.

1,141,21 1 Patented June 1, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

T In venfor ,i pointedv out ,1x1-'th claims hereunto UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SYDNEY PRESCTT, OF BROOKLYN. NEW' YORK, ASSIGNR TO MOTORFLEX EQUIP- MENT COMPANY, 0F NEW YORK. N.

., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

.pplication filed January 27, 1913.

T0 ul/ rif/10m it may concern.'

Be it known thatI I, SYDNEY 1. Pnnscorn a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county ot Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Universal Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in universal joints.

The main defect of universal joints heretofore used, particularly those running at high speed, was the lack of thorough lubrication, the centrifugal force developed by the rotating joint operating to throw the lubricant away from the pivots or out of the device.

One of the main objects of the present invention is the production of a universal joint in which the centrifugal force developed by the rotating joint is utilized to force a lubricant to the Wearing surfaces and retain it within the joint.

A further object is the production of a device of this character in which the relatively movable parts have large bearing surfaces without increasing the size of the joint as la Whole.

Another object is the production of a deviceof this character which is simple, relatively inexpensive, not liable to derangement or excessive Wear, and not subject to overheating.

Another object of the invention is the production of a universal joint espcciallv adapted for connecting the tail shaft of the speed changing mechanism of an antoniobile With the propeller shaft of the same. said joint having a spherical surface adapted to resist the `forward thrust of the rear drivin axle thus eliminating the necessity for ra ius rods and torque tubes.

Another object is the production of a device of the character just mentioned in `which a lubricant is forced to the bearing spherical surfaces by the centrifugal action of the rotating joint.

With these and other objects not specilically mentioned in View, the invention consiste .in certain constructions, combinations, improvement and parts which will be here` inafter fully` described and then specifically appended. 'ng drawings, which specification and in of reference indicate In thelacompan form part of this which like characters Specification of Letters Patent.

in Fig. 1.

Patented June 1, 1915.

Serial No. 744,424.

eneral views oai'tlv in section showin i c 5 various modified forms oi the device shown And Fig. 9 is an outside view of the oscillatorv member ot' the joint showing the arrangement of lubricant grooves whereby the spherical surface is lubricated.

In carrying theinvcntion into effect, there is provided a driving member, a driven member, an inclosed lubricant reservoir, an oscillatory member interposed between the driving member and the driven member at one end of the reservoir, pivots connecting the drivingr member and the oscillatory member, pivots connecting the drivenY member and the oscillatory member, and means cooperating with the reservoir for causing the centrifugal force developed by the rotating joint to force lubricant from the reservoir to and along all of the pivots. All of the elements enumerated above may be varied in construction within wide limits. In the best constructions. the meanswhereby the centrifugal force developed by the. rotating joint forces lubricant to and along all of the pivots is carried by the oscillatory member, and means are also provided which cooperate with the oscillatory member 5g prevent lubricant from passing to the si of the oscillatory member opposite the reservoir. When these means are employed, they mayl also be varied in construction within wide limits.

ln llulc\ ice selected to illustrate the invention, means for utilizing the centrifugal .force to lubricate the pivots includes a series of conduits formed in the oscillatory member and leading from the reservoir to and along' the pivots; and the means for preyenting lubricant from passing to the side ot' the oscillatory member opposite the reservoir consists ot' a packing ring sunk in the surface of the oscillatory member and wiping the inner surl'ace of the driving member. In the device selected to illustrate the invention, the driving member and oscillatory member are bothsubstantially spherical in form, the oscillatory member lying Within the driving member with its center co-incident with the center of the spherical part of the driving member. It is to be understood that the device selected to illustrate the invention ie but one oit many possible embodiments thereof und that the invention therefore is not to be restricted to the rprecise details of the structure shown and herein described: The driving member of the joint selected to illustrate the invention consists of two parte marked 1 and 2, both beingr steel forgings and langed. respectively :it 3 and 1. These flanges are held'together by means of bolts 5 in a Well-knwn manner. The main body of the driving member is substantially Spherical but the part 1 has extended there from a short cylindrical section 6 which is reduced at 7 and the reduced end is keyed to the tapered end 8 of a shaft 9 in e Wellknown manner. The reduced end 7 of the driving member is forced dn to the tapered vend S of the shaft 9 by means of :i mit 10 of well-known construction. The driving member is chambered at 11? the periphery of this chamber beinginclined from the mais of the shaft 9 :is clearly shown in. Fig. 1. A screw plugr 12 is provided which normally closes an aperture lending to the chamber 11 through which the lubricant muy be readily introduced into said rhnmber. There is further provided nn oseiilntory member 13 which is substantially spherical and provider'l with :i chamber 1x1 sind which is preferably constructed of manganese bronze. This oscillatory member is lorited Within the drivinzg member with its renter co-incident with the center of the spherical portion of said driving member ily en 'inspection of Fig. 1, it will be readily understood that the inner end of' the oseillzilorj: member 13 in cooperation with ll; l 'lmmber 1.1. of the driving member form; un inrlosed lubricant reA r\ oir :it one end of the oscil4 lntory member. Pi\ ots are proiidrd which. connect the driving member with the oseil latory member and other pivots are pio vided which Conner-.t the osoilliito jv mem bei' with the diiren member, A there are tiro steel pivots 15 L :ire dumped liet\..^een the two parts 1 und :il of the driving; member und journnleii in .wit-- able oppositelydisposed bearings lil in the oscillatory member 13, the .1 of these pivots und bezzrirfs lying in the transverse equatorial plane both oi the driving member and of the oscillatory meint; r. Shown, the driven member consists; of 1 shaft 17 having a T-heed 18 which closed Within the chamber 'it ot the ofcil latory member before referred to. This Trhead is provided with :t trai'isrerer- :iperture 19 in which it: mounted a steel pin 20 held in pince in n Well-known manner by menus of a set sere 2l. The pin 20 projects beyond both ends of the Thead 18 to form op|uositel v disposed pivots which are iourniiled in siutnble bearings 22 formed in the oscillntlry member 13, the axes of both pivots lying in the transverse equatorial plane of the oscillatory member but at right. angles to the axes of the pivots 15 before referred to. or the purpose of prmiding acress to the set screw Q1 through the renr weil of the os-:eillatory member, there is provided i screw plug 28 threaded in fi suitable :iperlnre in said rear Wall and which muy be readily' removed to aifordaece to the srt screw 2l 'when the device is dis-assembled.

The inner side of the oseille-tory member 13 is provided with :in annuler channel 24 of Varying depth, :md which is in open com-- mnnicatien with the reservoir before referred to. From the deeper parts of this Channel coi'idnits Q5 lend to the inner ends of the ots 15 um from the shallower p.iri-1 e ille chminei li conduits 26 lead to the pin QG. ilnrth oi the pivots 15 preferably has. ile. Inner end chamfered and provided with cross Channels 27 which are in register with the conduit 25 le(l ding to seid pivot nithougjh in f.: tain constructions the pivots 1.3 .muv be n l ttle slmiter tluin those shown so'tlzit their inner ends will not sent on the bottem m" the bearing 16, and in that onse no cross channels are required Conduits or lrbrirnnt grorwes Q8 lead along the pivots 154 one on either side of seid )'fivots. in the trrnsverse miuntoriai plane of the oscillatory member. 'These gr'wwes in ronneetion with th l Pross climinels if? and Conduite Q5 :fiflorfl e irre pese-ige `for lubricant from the reser ioir to :and :door: the pivots 15 particularly at the point where the ialeet thrust Comes when ilrviiir is in operation in either rotzitiion. The pin :'50 is provided rvitli tez `unir-rentinl lubricant their nel.C 29 in 'regmter with the conduits 26 lend` 1.2 nro'iifl t d with liibri-:iint channels or conduits 30 lefming along t e pin pivots before" lr-eerihed from. the ircumferential grooves 9C# to the outer ends of the pivots. 'the conduite 3i) lyi in 'the transverse. einer toriml plaine ot the i -illntorr member .'vhe the Heliview driving' .fhfist ocrurs lt er be mulily endormir-esl that the rentringei fori-e developed by the rotating joint tende to form the lubricant within the reservoir into nn annuler muss which is deflected laterally by the inclined mills ofthe ehember l1 into the annular groove Qi and thence through the eondnits "25 :ind 2G to the pivotel mid along the fifendnits and 3@ so that es long as there is any liibricant with a compnessible packingjring seatedv lubricant is forced by the centrifugal action' within the reservoir, it will be forced to" the pivots and cause the same to run in a bath of lubricant.

For the purpose of preventing the lubricant from passing to the side of the oscillatory member opposite the reservoir, there is provided a packing ring 31 sunk in the outer surface of the oscillatory member and `wiping the inner surface ofthe two parts F or the purpose of preventing centrifugal I force from throwing any lubrlcant out of the device which may pass along that portion of the pivptsl clamped'between the flanges 3 and {fthe two of'the driving member, each of said pivots-is provided injgroove formed in the pivot adjacent its outer end and contacting with the surfaces between which thepivot is clamped.

In the modified form of joint shown'in Fig. 6, the driving member is provided with an extension 34 slidably splin'ed upon the enlargedend 35 of a driving .shaft 36, the purpose of this construction 'being to provide for longitudinal movement as well vas angular-ity of the driven shaft. In the modified form shown in F ig', 7, the driving member is formed integrally with the driving shaft 37. In`thevmodiecl form shown in Fig. 8, the driven member carries a socket 38 splined upon the enlarged end 39 of a shaft 40, the object of this' construction being to provide for longitudinal movement as well as angularity of either the driving or the driven shaft.' .Otherwise ythese modified forms are like the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive'.

It is apparent that what has been herein' termed' the driving member may be the driven member and what has been herein termed the driven member may be the driving member; in other words, the'device opera-tes in exactly the same manner irrespective of the end to which the driving power is applied.

lWhen the device is to be used to take the thrust of the driving axle of an automobile through the propeller shaft of the same, the

spherical surface ofthe oscillatory member 13 is provided with a series of lubricant channels or conduitslfi through which the of the joint to thoroughly' lubricate thefcontween the driving tacting spherical surfaces of the driving member and the oscillatory member.

In view of the foregoing7 a detailed del scription of operation of the device is deemed unnecessaryandis therefore omitted in the interestfof brevity.

What is claimed is:

1. In a, universal joint, the combination with a driving member, of a driven member, an oscillatory member interposed bemember and the driven member andA partially inclosed by the driving member in such manner that there is formed between the oscillatory member and the driving member an inclosed lubricant reservoir, pivots connecting the driving member and the oscillatory member, pivots connecting the driven member and the oscillatory member'said parts being provided with means coperating with the reservoir for causing the centrifugal force developed by the rotating joint to force lubricant from the reservoir to and along all of the pivots, and a packing ring sunk in the outer surface of the oscillatory member and wiping the. inner surface of the driving member for voir, pivots connecting the driving member l and the oscillatory member.pivots connecting the driven member and the oscillatory member` said oscillatory. member having a series of conduits lending from the reservoir one to and along each of the pivots \\'liereby the centrifugal force developed by thc rotating jointforccs 'lubricant from the reservoir to and along all of the pivots. and a packing ring sunk in the' oiitcr surface of the oscillatory Vmember and wiping the inner' surface of the driving member for preventing lubricant from passing to thc side of the oscillatory member Aopposite the reservoir.

3. In a universal joint, the combination with a' chambered two-part 'substantially' spherical driving member, of a driven shaft having a T-head` a chambered substantially. spherical oscillatory member inclosing the T-head of the driven shaft and located livi-thin the driving member'iwith its center co-incidentwith the center of the driving member and arranged to concrate with the chamber of the driving member toform anv ,inclosed lubricant reservoir at one end of,

the rotating joint to force lubricant from the reservoir to and along all of the pivots. pivots clamped between the two parts of the driving member and journaled in the oscillatory member on its transverse equatorial plane, and a pin carried by the T-head of the driven shaft and projecting from both ends of said T-head to form pivots journaled in the oscillatory member on its transverse equatorial plane at right angles to the driving member pivots.

4. In a universal joint, the combination with a chambered two-part substantially spherical driving member` of a driven shaft having a Tshead, a chambered substantially spherical oscillatory member inclosing the T-head of the driven shaft and located within the driving member with its center coincident With the center of the driving member and arranged to coperatie with the chamber of the driving member to form an inclosed lubricant reservoir at one end of the oscillatory member and provided with a series of conduits leading from the reservoir one to and along each of the pivots, pivots clamped between the two parts of the driving member and journaled in the oscillatory member on its transverse equatorial plane, a pin carried by the T-head of the driven shaft and projecting from both ends of said T-head to form pivots journalcd in the oscillatory member on its transverse equatorial plane at right angles to the driving member pivots.

,5. In a universal joint, the combination f'with 'a' chambered two-part substantially surface of the oscillatory member and wip- Y Y lubricant cross channels in register with the spherical driving member, of a driven shaft having a, T-head, a chamberf-d substantiallv Spherical oscillatory member inclosingthe T- head of the driven shaft and located within the driving member with its center co-incidcnt with thefcenter of the driving member and arranged to copcrate with the chamber of the driving member to form an vinclosed lubricant reservoir at one end loli the oscillatory member and provided with a series of conduits leading from the reservoir one to and along each pivot, pivots clamped between the two-parts of the driving member and journaled in the oscillator)v member on its transverse -equatorial plane, a pin carried by the T-head of thc driven shaft and projecting from both ends of said T-head to form pivots journaled in the oscillatory ,member on its transverse equatoriai plane at right angles to the driving,r member pivots, and a packing1r ring sunk in the outer ing the inner surface' of the drivingl member, each ofthe driving member pivots having its inner end chamfered and provided with conduit leading to said. pivot, and each of the driven member pivots having a circumferential lubricant channel in register with the conduit leading to said pivot.

6. In -a universal joint, the combination.

with a chambered two-part substantiall spherical driving member, of a driven s lia having a T-head, a chambered substantially spherical oscillatory member inclosing the T-head of the driven shaft and located with-'Vj in the driving member with its center coln-V ber and journaled in the oscillatory member on its transverse equatorial plane, a pin'carried by the. T-head of the driven shaft and projecting from both ends of said T-head to form pivots journaled in the oscillatory' member on its transverse equatorial plane at right angles to the driving member piv-l ots, a packing ring sunk in the outer surface of the oscillatory .member and wiping the inner surface of the driving member, and a pair of compressible'paclring rings one between each driving member pivot ad-l jacent its outer end and the surfaces between which it is clamped, each of the driving member pivots having its inncr end.

chaml'ered and providedwitn lubricantcros's channels in register with the conduit leading to said pivot, and each ,of 'the driven mem?. bei' pivots having a circumferential lubri-v cant channel in register with theA conduit'v leading to said pivot.

7. In a, universal joint, the combination with a two-part substantially spherical (hiving member, of a driven member having a T- head, a chambered substantially spherical.

oscillatory member inclosing the Tehead of tbe driven shaft and located withinthe driving member, pivots clamped between thetw'o parts of the driving member and journaled in the oscillatory member, and a pin carried by the T-head of the drivenmeinber-and l between the two parts o f the vdriving mem-- est,

iro,

projecting from both ends' of saidvT-hegtdV` to form PVOtS ivurnaled in the oscillator member, said parts being providedvit means for forcibly lubricating thepivlots.

In testimony whereof, I havelsignedjmy name to this specification in thepresenbe of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses:

FRANK H. VICE/Ir., ELIZABETH Lomsn RUSSELL.

SYDNEY 3i. P REsooT'rl j A 

